Dave Perkins

Barry Faulkner Though a serpentine career path increases the degree of difficulty, the past still catches up with Estancia High football coach Dave Perkins. And, when the odd phone call or occasional chance encounter reconnects Perkins with a former player, he is allowed to relish the deepest rewards his profession can provide. Now, finally back in Orange County after working 18 seasons at various campuses in the Inland Empire, the 1970 Newport Harbor High graduate looks forward to building up the Eagles' program, while laying down permanent roots.

Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA - The transfers of three football players from Estancia High to Costa Mesa High have been approved and two more could be finalized before fall practice begins, according to officials at both schools, as well as the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Bobby Arroyo, Matt Colby and A.J. Perkins, all of whom played for Dave Perkins as juniors last year at Estancia, have joined their former coach, A.J.'s father, at Costa Mesa and are working out with the Mustangs during the summer session.

Richard Dunn LAGUNA BEACH - With Costa Mesa High's football team struggling with its emotions the past few weeks, perhaps the perfect remedy is coming next week in crosstown rival Estancia. "I've been waiting for Week 8 for six months," Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins said, following his team's 22-14 Pacific Coast League victory over host Laguna Beach Friday night. The Mustangs (5-2, 1-1 in PCL), who dominated the statistical scoreboard against the Artists (5-2, 0-2)

Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA - Sometimes the sweetest part of a victory celebration occurs the following day, when the players and coaches meet to review the videotape. This was especially true for the Costa Mesa High football team, which first-year coach Dave Perkins said had not spent much time basking in the cinematic glow of its victories under the previous regime. "From what kids were telling me, they didn't look at a lot of film," Perkins said.

Roger Carlson Costa Mesa High School's football team, about six weeks away from the start of the 2004 season, is without a head coach following the dismissal of Dave Perkins on Friday. "I'm done," Perkins, 52, said late Friday night. "I've talked to my union representative and am exploring the possibilities of a transfer [within the district]." Perkins, who is without a coaching post for the first time in 30 years, said he was fired because of a misunderstanding with school administration over a check from a summer football camp that was mistakenly made out to him. Perkins said the check was intended for the school's booster program and was only supposed to say, "Attention: Dave Perkins."

Barry Faulkner Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins will add boys athletic director to his duties at the school, it was announced Tuesday. Perkins, who just completed his second season by leading the Mustangs to only the second outright league championship in the program's 43 varsity seasons, replaces Kirk Bauermeister, who resigned in September to become an assistant principal at the school. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to be a bigger part of the athletic program," said Perkins, who was the athletic director at Imperial High for two years (1978-80)

Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA - The annual crosstown high school football showdown between Costa Mesa and Estancia has become commonly known as the Battle for the Bell. However, combatants in this year's edition, a Pacific Coast League clash that kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College, have taken to simply calling it Week 8, as if any other description is just window dressing. "We're competing for the Bell (perpetual trophy), the city championship and bragging rights for the rest of our lives," first-year Estancia coach Jay Noonan said.

Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA -- On the most difficult day of his 28-year career, Costa Mesa High Coach Dave Perkins stood before Mustang football players, parents, students, coaches and administrators Saturday groping for words of consolation to deliver to the inconsolable. "There were a lot of red eyes, a lot of tears, a lot of kids who were devastated," Perkins said of the morning on-campus meeting prompted by the death of Mesa senior Matt Colby. Colby, a 6-foot, 185-pound transfer from Estancia High, was taken off a respirator Saturday at UCI Medical Center per his family's request.

Steve Virgen Doug Deats, who guided the Costa Mesa High baseball team the past two seasons, as well as from 1994-97, has resigned as the Mustangs' baseball coach. It is the fourth coaching or athletics administration resignation in the past three months. Bob Serven, who is an assistant at Mater Dei, resigned as boys basketball coach in April. Dave Perkins resigned as boys athletic director last week. Glenn Mitchell stepped down as boys and girls track and field coach, Perkins said.

There isn't a day that goes by that Dave Perkins doesn't think about Matt Colby. Perkins sees him every day. In his living room, there's a photo of his former high school football player. Colby played for Perkins at Estancia and Costa Mesa. Perkins plans to spend time with Colby before Estancia's home game against Northwood on Thursday night. Perkins, now an assistant at Northwood, knows where to find Colby. Close to the visitor's locker room at Jim Scott Stadium, there's a tree planted in Colby's memory.

Estancia High football coach Mike Bargas was cautious about revealing too much of the defensive plan Eagles coordinator Dave Holland is preparing for tonight’s 7 o’clock nonleague game against Magnolia. But there is virtually zero mystery about the offensive plan utilized by the Sentinels (0-2), coached by former Estancia and Costa Mesa head man Dave Perkins. “They’re fairly one-dimensional,” Bargas said of the smashmouth double wing scheme Magnolia will deploy at La Palma Park’s Glover Stadium.

In celebration of one of his three quarterback sacks in Friday's 37-7 nonleague football win over Costa Mesa High, Corona del Mar senior defensive end Matt Burgner flashed the "trident" hand sign he hopes will catch on with other athletes and students at the school. Burgner explained the sign, borrowed from Arizona State where the same symbol represents the Sun Devil mascot's pitchfork, is made by holding the fore, index and little fingers upward, while tucking the ring finger in with the thumb.

Steve Virgen First in a three-part series The firing of Dave Perkins as football coach at Costa Mesa High is one in a series of tremors being felt in the school's athletic department that has seen three coaches leave their posts in a three-month span as well as the demotion of Perkins as boys athletic director. When Perkins ceased being boys athletic director on July 1, he cited spending more time with his family and concentrating on coaching the Mustangs' football team.

Roger Carlson Costa Mesa High School's football team, about six weeks away from the start of the 2004 season, is without a head coach following the dismissal of Dave Perkins on Friday. "I'm done," Perkins, 52, said late Friday night. "I've talked to my union representative and am exploring the possibilities of a transfer [within the district]." Perkins, who is without a coaching post for the first time in 30 years, said he was fired because of a misunderstanding with school administration over a check from a summer football camp that was mistakenly made out to him. Perkins said the check was intended for the school's booster program and was only supposed to say, "Attention: Dave Perkins."

Steve Virgen Doug Deats, who guided the Costa Mesa High baseball team the past two seasons, as well as from 1994-97, has resigned as the Mustangs' baseball coach. It is the fourth coaching or athletics administration resignation in the past three months. Bob Serven, who is an assistant at Mater Dei, resigned as boys basketball coach in April. Dave Perkins resigned as boys athletic director last week. Glenn Mitchell stepped down as boys and girls track and field coach, Perkins said.

Barry Faulkner Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins will add boys athletic director to his duties at the school, it was announced Tuesday. Perkins, who just completed his second season by leading the Mustangs to only the second outright league championship in the program's 43 varsity seasons, replaces Kirk Bauermeister, who resigned in September to become an assistant principal at the school. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to be a bigger part of the athletic program," said Perkins, who was the athletic director at Imperial High for two years (1978-80)

Barry Faulkner After further review, Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins said the pass interference penalty that helped set up Gabrielino's winning field goal in the final minute was a phantom call. Perkins, however, does not blame the officials for his team's surprising 15-14 loss in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division VII Playoffs Friday night at Orange Coast College. Instead, Perkins believes his team (8-3), which claimed only the second outright league championship in the program's 43 varsity seasons and entered the postseason on a seven-game winning streak, may have looked past the Eagles (6-4-1)

Paul Clinton Friends and family of Matt Colby gathered at Estancia High School Saturday to pay tribute and plant a memorial tree for the high school football player who died a year ago today. Kelli Colby, during a sundown ceremony at Estancia's football field, remembered her son as a curious teenager who loved to stir up mischief and make friends. "It still hurts a lot that he's not here physically," Colby said. "But it feels so much better to have the memories."

Barry Faulkner COSTA MESA - The annual crosstown high school football showdown between Costa Mesa and Estancia has become commonly known as the Battle for the Bell. However, combatants in this year's edition, a Pacific Coast League clash that kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College, have taken to simply calling it Week 8, as if any other description is just window dressing. "We're competing for the Bell (perpetual trophy), the city championship and bragging rights for the rest of our lives," first-year Estancia coach Jay Noonan said.